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The moment my child achieved sentience by Ungrateful_bipedal in daddit
My first time flying air gates w/ Blackout 330. What a rush. by Ungrateful_bipedal in fpv
Anyone care to see me destroy my Blackout 330? "A Good Day to Crash Hard" by Ungrateful_bipedal in fpv
A little graduation video by perrynfowler in predaddit
Graduated a month early, as birthday gift to my dad. Underweight, but extremely healthy and hungry. Meet Zachary. by Nate0624 in predaddit
[–]Nate0624[S] 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
Will you all help me find the perfect novel to introduce someone to the wonders of reading a good book? by meeohmi in books
What is your favorite book that isn't part of a series? by ringsnmodules in books
What is your favorite book that isn't part of a series? by ringsnmodules in books
Sunshine is one of my favorite movies... Until the third act. How would you have changed the ending? [SPOILERS] by HanShotFurst in scifi
It seems that writing comes down to three separate things... by OnlyMereImmortal in writing
What makes a good summary of a novel to show publishers? by DancesWithMustelids in writing
"Rant", Chuck Palahniuk by TheRealCalypso in books
Would anyone be able to provide me a Synopsis of Trainspotting before I read the book? by brodeh in literature
Accidentally deleted my "Books To Get" bookmark on Chrome. Can everyone please recommend one fiction and nonfiction book for me to read. by nothinglikemyparents in books
Been enjoying Breaking Bad (TV); I love the smart twisty chase, the intricacy of detail, the brilliance of Walt's solutions. Can anyone suggest any novels that are similarly well put together? (Note: I don't necessarily want/need the crime element.) by in books
Half way through Brothers Karamazov and need to talk to people about it. by in books
Would you consider the ending of Vegas Vacation an example of a deus ex machina? by in Screenwriting
Picture of arrested graffiti crime spree couple goes viral (petapixel.com)
submitted by Nate0624 to /r/Graffiti
What popular experience did you miss out on when you were growing up? It could be many things, games, tv shows, music etc. by niallmc66 in AskReddit
Just recently discovered my love of noir style films. Any recommendations on must watch titles? by in movies
What is your favorite movie quote that's 5 words or less? by tgiclgbr in movies
WYR have a bowel movement at the same time everyday or pee sitting down (M) for the rest of your life? by Nate0624 in WouldYouRather
[–]Nate0624[S] 0 points1 point2 points (0 children)


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HomeBase Project is a nomadic site-specific artist-in-residency and research program exploring the notion of home, operating at the axis of contemporary art, social innovation and meaningful urban change. HomeBase seeks to challenge the role artists play in shaping their surrounding, raising new possibilities for social, communal, educational and civic awareness in everyday urban life.
HomeBase Project was founded in 2006 in NYC by Artist and Curator Anat Litwin. Over the years it has inhabited buildings in changing urban neighborhoods in New York, Berlin and Jerusalem, transforming vacant sites into vital homes for artistic experimentation and cross cultural exchange in collaboration with diverse communities of artists, local residents, educators and social change agents, anchored in seeking possibilities for linking art and everyday living through home.
Towards celebrating the first decade of HomeBase Project we are glad to announce that HB Project has been selected to be part of the New Saitama Triennale taking place in 2015 & 2016. We are moving on to a new continent and new city, and will begin HB Saitama in Nov 2015. We invite you to follow us on our journey home.

subset: commoncrawl


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[caption id="attachment_4139" align="alignright" width="205" caption="Sgt. Kevin A. Aguilar, dispatching and licensing noncommissioned officer in charge for Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, conducts Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training with his Marines on a regular basis. (Photo by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso)"][/caption]
September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month and in recognition of this we'll be honoring those who serve, along with highlighting many of our great celebrity entertainers.
Several branches are also celebrating: the Army has created the website Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Army; the Navy's supports Hispanic Officer candidates through the Association of Naval Services Officers; Military Times chose LCDR Richard A. Angelet as 2010 Coast Guardsmen of the Year in recognition of his work on behalf of Hispanics service members; and the Air Force recently selected two winners of the 2010 National LATINA Symposium Distinguished Service Award.
Today we bring you a story from the Marines, as first reported by On the Frontlines: Every year, certain periods of time are set aside for the each branch of the armed services to honor the rich blend of cultures serving among their ranks. Cultural observances highlight the accomplishments of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen—past and present—who make a difference in the lives of those around them.
At Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Marine Sergeant Kevin A. Aguilar - a Marine of Hispanic descent - is one of those service members currently making a difference in the lives of his troops. Read Aguilar's story, "What a Sergeant of Marines Should Be," on the official site of the U.S. Marines.
More from the USO
Jul 29, 2016
Military Bride-to-Be Says Yes to the Dress Thanks to the USO at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
As soon as Melissa Wrisley put on the satin white gown, she knew it was "the dress." Just a few months earlier, when she was first engaged to her now-husband, Marine Pfc. Brandon Wrisley, Melissa was wondering if she would even be able to find a dress – let alone a designer dress – that would fit their tight wedding budget.


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An early morning garage fire occurring shortly after midnight Monday caused an estimated $105,000 in damage to a Klondike Way home and to its contents.
The top three sources of non-retail jobs in Manteca and Lathrop for the past 10 years?
The Manteca Tea Party Patriots are taking it to the streets.
All that Diana Urena knew about firefighters was that they occasionally saved lives.
Salty snacks started the stampede to Spreckels Park.
The odds are growing that the majority of people hit the hardest by the weak economy and Manteca's 13.4 percent unemployment rate will go without a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year.
The nation's Christmas tree is making a stop in Manteca Tuesday at Library Park on its way to Washington, D.C.
Cutting edge technology employed by South San Joaquin Irrigation District may give the cities of Manteca, Ripon, Lathrop, and Tracy more of one of California's most precious resources - water.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first story of a three-part series on the envisioned employment triangle centered on the Highway 99 and 120 Bypass interchange that could ultimately generate in excess of 17,000 jobs.
Linda Abeldt is a true believer in the Manteca-Lathrop Boys & Girls Club.
LATHROP – There might not be an immediate solution to the parking and traffic woes at Lathrop Elementary School in sight.
The Manteca Assembly #38, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, will pay a special tribute today for Brittney Clements.
Tim Valentine has Plan B in place in the event rain dampens the outdoor activities lined up for Saturday's Fall Festival Street Fair at his Manteca Winery on Oak Street.
The theme is "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" but the secular Christmas icon immortalized in song by Gene Autry won't be leading Santa down Yosemite Avenue this year.
RIPON - As the leaves turn color and the chill is in the air it's once again time for the Ripon Chambers annual "Taste of Ripon" wine stroll showcasing the City's beautiful Downtown and its merchants.
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The Ripon Farmers' Market is returning to its old downtown roots on East Main Street just beyond the Ripon Road House starting this Friday from ...
They're champions on and off the field.
The new game plan for Woodward Avenue traffic calls for a roundabout at the Union Road intersection and traffic signals at Pillsbury Road as well ...
An 18-year-old shooting victim has died in Lathrop.
The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association has opened a Modesto office to serve the 209 region.
Two shootings Friday night in Manteca saw one man go to an area hospital with a non-life threatening injury shortly after 10:30 p.m.
There was a time not that long ago where I practically lived on the racquetball courts at In-Shape.
NEWPORT BEACH (AP) - Thousands of Memorial Day beachgoers were kept out of the water Monday as lifeguards searched miles of popular Southern California shoreline for ...
TRUCKEE (AP) - The Truckee Police Department has purchased its first electric motorcycle, a new tool officers say will help them keep people safe and catch ...
Everything you need to know about life you can learn from the movies.
Manteca High's Class of 2016 went a bit heavy with the analogies Friday during graduation.
South San Joaquin Irrigation District has taken the next step needed to become the retail electricity provider for Manteca, Ripon, Lathrop and the surrounding countryside.
For the second straight year, Lathrop High featured three valedictorians for graduation.
Page 17 of 17
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A novel class of methods that estimate the difference in arrival time between signals corrupted by spatially correlated Gaussian noise sources of unknown cross correlation is presented. The methods are based on the idea of comparing the similarities between the two sensor measurements in higher-order spectrum domains (bispectrum) rather than in the cross-correlation domain. It is demonstrated that estimation techniques based on higher-order cumulants suppress the effect of correlated Gaussian noise sources and therefore exhibit improved performance over generalized cross-correlation methods. Results are reported for different types of signals, lengths of data records, and signal-to-noise ratios


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Check prices on hotels in Stanardsville
Most Popular Hotels in Stanardsville
Get 200 Nectar points when you book your hotel
Simply enter your Nectar card number when prompted. Your points will be credited 30 days after you return from your trip.
Lafayette Inn
146 E Main St, Stanardsville 229733.0 out of 5.0
Situated near the airport, this bed & breakfast is within 12 mi (20 km) of Kilaurwen Winery, Early Mountain Vineyards, and …
The Ebenezer House Bed & Breakfast
122 Seville Road, Madison 227273.0 out of 5.0
Situated in Madison, this bed & breakfast is 6.1 mi (9.8 km) from Early Mountain Vineyards and within 12 mi (20 km) of …
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charlottesville - Ruckersville
5920 Seminole Trail, Ruckersville 229682.5 out of 5.0
Situated near the airport, this hotel is within 9 mi (15 km) of Reynard Florence Vineyard, Four County Players, and …
Graduate Charlottesville
1309 W Main St, Charlottesville 229033.0 out of 5.0
The hotel is right across the street from the University of Virginia - ideal for those in town to visit students or catch a …
Omni Charlottesville Hotel
212 Ridge McIntire Rd, Charlottesville 229034.0 out of 5.0
Omni Charlottesville Hotel is a 20-minute drive from Charlottesville Airport and walking distance from the eateries and …
Super 8 Charlottesville
390 Greenbrier Dr, Charlottesville 229011.5 out of 5.0
Situated in Charlottesville, this motel is 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from Fashion Square Mall and within 3 mi (5 km) of Rotunda and …
Courtyard by Marriott Charlottesville North
638 Hillsdale Dr, Charlottesville 229013.0 out of 5.0
Situated in the business district, this hotel is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Fashion Square Mall and within 3 mi (5 km) of Barracks …
Comfort Inn Monticello
2097 Inn Dr, Charlottesville 229112.5 out of 5.0
Located in the heart of Charlottesville, this hotel is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Aboriginal Art Museum and within 6 mi (10 km) of …
Cavalier Inn At The University of Virginia
105 N. Emmet St, Charlottesville 229032.0 out of 5.0
The hotel enjoys a quiet campus setting, a 15-minute drive from CHO Airport and 5 minutes from Charlottesville Amtrak …
Stonewall Jackson Hotel
24 South Market Street, Staunton 244013.0 out of 5.0
Located in the heart of Staunton, this historic hotel is steps from American Shakespeare Center and R.R. Smith Center for …
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Horse Riding in Chianti Day Trip from Florence
Recent Photos of this Tour
Schedule details
Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.
Pricing information
Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.
9:30am Departure
Code: EN0930
Horse Riding in Chianti Day Trip from Florence, departing at 9:30am
NZD175.27Pricing details
2:30pm Departure
Code: EN1430
Horse Riding in Chianti Day Trip from Florence, departing at 2:30pm. Available April to October only
NZD175.27Pricing details
Pricing information
Horseriding in Chianti
- Round trip transfers (approx 30 minutes each way)
- Chianti Horse Riding and Orientation lesson (approx. 1 hours)
- Use of Helmets
- Guided Winery visit
- Wine tasting
- Lunch
- Gratuities (optional)
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Confirmation for this tour will be received at time of booking.
- Children under 14 years will not be permitted
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Horses can bear up to 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Long-leave pants and sports shoes are required (no flip-flops please!)
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
Additional details
Traveler Reviews
Reviewed by: Cheyenne G, July 2016
This tour was amazing! I would recommend it to anyone traveling to the area. The horseback riding was peaceful and the most beautiful views of Chianti. Wine was fantastic and so was the food (my favorite from all Italy). Eliseo, our tour guide, really made the expierence complete. He was awesome!
Reviewed by: Margaret R, July 2016
Enjoyed the horseback riding. Three guides were provided, one at the front of the line, one in the middle, and one at the end. The trail took us along the side of some grape vineyards and then through some olive orchards. There was a section where the trail took us up a hill, but as a first time rider, I felt very safe with the guides coaching us along the way. Recommend the morning ride as it gets quite warm. The only thing missing was an opportunity to take photos of the beautiful views during the ride. Next stop was at an organic chianti producer. Beautiful views. If it were up to me, Id eliminate this piece in favor of more time at the stables or at lunch. End of the trip was lunch at a castle. The food was absolutely awesome, simple foods but sooo good. Got to sample a number of olive oils and balsamic vineyards. Wonderful setting. Our guide Valerio was excellent.


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VENTNOR - A human conveyor belt prepared to assist thousands of Hurricane Sandy victims assembled early Monday morning at the Ventnor Community Center on Atlantic Avenue.
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Moving On to Boot Camp
If your sleep is still disturbed after completing the first part of the program, march on to part two: boot camp.
"Night by night, the 28-day hard-core regimented program walks you through what to do, from what time to go to bed to what to eat," Breus says. Throughout the program, you'll keep a sleep diary to record your choices and note the progress you make.
As you would imagine, week one covers the basics. On night one, for example, you'll start to figure out the right bedtime and wake time for you.
On night two, you'll develop a bedtime routine. "Key to this is a 'power-down' hour, in which activities such as using the computer and reading work material are prohibited. One trick so you don't forget to 'power down' is to set your alarm clock for one hour before you go to bed," he says.
On night three, you'll evaluate daytime habits and routines, such as alcohol and caffeine consumption, that can affect sleep, while night four calls for another look at the bedroom environment. Night five offers stretches and relaxation techniques you can use during your 'power-down' hour, while night six focuses on food. Meals that are high in carbs and low to medium in protein are good for sleep; heavy spices are a big loser at dinnertime.
Night seven covers the right time to exercise. A typical myth buster: Exercise at the end of the day is a bad idea. "This is not necessarily true, Breus says. "For many, exercise provides the perfect preamble for sleep."
From Better Sleep to Better Health
During week two, you'll evaluate what you have done during week one -- what works, what doesn't.
"Week three and four are for ingraining good habits," Breus says. The big action items during week three: Pinpointing the relaxation techniques that work best for you and practicing them on a regular basis and keeping a worry journal. "Any anxieties -- problems and solutions -- are written out, so you don't have to worry about them during the night," he explains.


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Holland Center was born out of a parents desire to have a safe, compassionate environment where children with Autism could receive the best and most effective Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech and occupational therapies along with available biomedical interventions to treat children with Autism all under one roof. We are dedicated to recruiting and retaining top notch staff with advanced degrees who are committed to helping the children and families we serve. Coupling strong parental support and involvement to serve the entire family alongside a center that meets the needs of the whole child, Holland Center was born.
Holland Center presents
The Parents's Guide to Autism Workshops:
Increasing Cooperation in Children With Autism
Our goal is to help parents learn how to increase cooperation and reduce problematic behaviors in children with autism. We hope that you can join us!
Registration Information Coming Soon
July 26th at 4:30 PM SunnyDays Occupational Therapy will be presenting a monthly Parent Resource Group on Fine Motor Fun! RSVP to Leslie if you plan to attend.
Holland Center is now hiring Behavioral Therapists!!!
Check out our career tab for more information.
Individual, comprehensive Biomedical services offered including Medical Consulting, Nutrition Consulting, HBOT and Food & Allergy testing.
Holland Center offers world-class consulting and assessment services.
Holland offers a host of therapies to support our treatment model including occupational therapy as well as speech/language services.
Holland Center's has opportunities for committed, hardworking individuals to join our team of exceptional therapists!
Information on accepted Insurance and Payment options.
Holland Center
10273 Yellow Circle Dr.
Minnetonka, MN 55343


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Reviewed by 6 customers
The Ashton tables promptly arrived in great condition. They were carefully packaged and lightweight.
I bought these tables after reading the good reviews online. Unfortunately, I didn't see them before buying and have learned to not buy furniture online, no matter what kind of bargain it seems. I thought these looked very cheap, not like metal, more like a plastic top. I returned them to my local store, only to learn if I returned them in the box to the shipper my shipping costs would be refunded. Learned a lot of lessons here.
Absolutely love these tables. Didn't want a coffee table, but needed something for guests to put their drinks down. Easily stored as an accent table with lamp and just as easy to pull out when needed. Great industrial look, quality, and utility. Will definitely recommend.
I purchased these table nesting tables to use in my family room, they have quickly become a favortie with the grandchildren for snacks, puzzels and lap tops. They are very sturdy yet light enough to be moved easily. They look great and have multiple uses!
Loved these tables! Ordered these tables to create a modern and sophisticated lounge and the worked out perfectly. Great value as you get three tables. Very chic and easy to clean. Delivered quickly and in great shape. Very lightweight and easy to move around!
I first saw these in the store and knew they'd be a perfect addition to our house. I use them separately in two rooms. If you're looking for low profile, contemporary/ industrial end tables these are great! And the price can't be beat. Purchased online - they arrived quickly in excellent condition. I strongly recommend these!
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World Wide Study Bible
a Bible passage
23. The hour is come. Many explain this as referring to the death of Christ, because by it the glory of Christ was manifested; so that, in their opinion, Christ now declares that the time of his death is at hand. But I rather view it as referring to the publication of the gospel; as if he had said, that the knowledge of him would soon be spread through every region of the world. Thus he wished to meet the astonishment which his death might excite in his disciples; for he shows that there is no reason why their courage should fail, because the doctrine of the' gospel will nevertheless be proclaimed throughout the whole world. Again, that this contemplation of his glow may not soon afterwards vanish, when he shall be condemned to death, hung on the cross, and finally buried. he gives them early information and warning that the ignominy of his death is no obstruction to his glory. For this purpose he employs a most appropriate comparison.


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Investors' complaint founders
Relevant offers
A group of Hubbard investors' complaint to the Government has failed to bring about any action.
The Investor Liaison Group laid a complaint with the Government about the conduct of statutory managers Grant Thornton which was sent to Commerce Minister Craig Foss and the attorney-general .
The group hoped the complaint, which was signed by 230 investors, would spur the Government to find an appropriate solution for all investors, while picking up the tab for management and legal costs which have reached $12 million.
Aorangi Securities and Hubbard Management Funds (HMF) were put into statutory management along with Allan and Jean Hubbard on June 20, 2010. Mr Hubbard has since died.
This week Investor Liaison Group spokesperson Noel Macpherson said they received a response from Mr Foss advising he would not be doing anything, while the Attorney General responded and referred to the statutory management of South Canterbury Finance, which is not the entity named in the complaint and has gone into receivership.
"The Attorney General's office said our complaint about the statutory management of South Canterbury Finance was outside its jurisdiction so we have written back and explained they had got it wrong," Mr Macpherson said.
"There is no end plan and two-and-a-half years later the costs are racking up and the litigation is stacking up which is all coming out of the investors' pockets."
The response from Mr Foss said the costs of the statutory managers were not excessive.
"I am advised that the hourly rates charged by the statutory managers are in line with those of other major South Island insolvency practitioners and that their administration costs have been independently reviewed. I understand that all expenses to date, including remuneration, are reported to have been reasonable and properly incurred.
"In relation to your concerns about the quality of the statutory managers' work, it is important that we all understand and appreciate how commercially complex the administration of Aorangi and HMF has been."
Overall there are around 700 investors owed $176m, of which at least 22 have died Mr Macpherson said. A number of investors have been interviewed by TV3's Campbell Live about their financial woes as a result of statutory management, and their problems are likely to air in the next week.
- The Timaru Herald
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Why I'm Not a Fitbit FanFitness
A Fitbit is a type of electronic device used for personal activity tracking. These wireless-enabled, wearable devices measure data such as the number of steps walked, quality of sleep, and other personal metrics.
The Fitbit was developed by the company of the same name founded and managed by James Park and Eric Friedman.
Since then, a proliferation of various styles and models have taken the workout world by storm with Fitbits and similar knock off devices crafted for every personality and need.
The very simple Fitbit Zip, which is about the size of a quarter, tracks only steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. The sophisticated Fitbit Flex, which is worn 24 hours a day even while showering and swimming, tracks all its wearer's movement including sleep patterns.
There are Fitbit apps for the iPhone and Android too which allow fans to log their food, activities, water intake, and weight, as well as track their fitness goals throughout the day even while offline.
While the Fitbit and devices like them may seem like a very helpful tool to keep people motivated and moving toward exercise goals, I don't personally use one nor do I recommend them to folks that ask me about them. Here are my reasons.
Exercise is About Relaxation, Movement and Stress Reduction
For me, exercise is primarily about movement, relaxation and stress reduction. It frees the mind from the cares of the day for a short period of time.
Adding a lot of data and personal activity tracking to the mix is decidedly un-relaxing to me. I don't want my every breath, step and heartbeat chronicled, tracked and categorized as I go through my workout whether it be a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood or a high intensity rebounding session on our outdoor trampoline.
Tracking my steps around the house as I do laundry, cook and wash dishes seems very over the top and rather invasive too. Can't we just enjoy our exercise and daily activities without having to micromanage and examine every aspect about them under a microscope?
Exercise is not primarily about weight loss either at least to me. It's about getting the blood pumping to facilitate the body's detoxification mechanisms and to build and maintain muscle, fitness and balance. Simple burning of calories may help you lose weight but this alone never got anyone healthy, so why bother tracking exercise at such an elementary, two dimensional level?
While some may find Fitbits helpful to the exercise process, to me, they detract from the psychological benefits of exercise enjoyment by micromanaging what should be experienced in an expansive manner.
Fitbit: Unnecessary Exposure to EMF Radiation
There are now pictures available that show actual wireless radiation surrounding a person using a wireless enabled device. You can see photographer Luis Hernan's incredible photos here.
While it is basically impossible to get away from the constant bathing of the body in wireless radiation while at work or in a public place, exercise particularly in the outdoors offers a prime opportunity for rest and release from the onslaught of electromagnetic fields (EMF) for a brief period of time.
It makes no sense, at least to me, to be hooked up to a device like a Fitbit that emits any sort of EMF radiation while exercising which is already putting the body under physical stress from sweating and detoxification.
Fitbits that people wear while sleeping seem most dangerous of all. There is absolutely no data proving the safety of these devices during sleep even though the user manuals claim that "This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment."
Quality sleep is very important for maintaining a healthy weight. Research has shown that poor quality sleep causes weight problems. Even just a few nights of poor sleep can lead to almost immediate weight gain. Are Fitbit nighttime wearers inadvertently undoing their daytime efforts to lose weight?
In fact, sleep and good health are so inextricably linked that many holistic medical practitioners recommend turning all wireless sources off at night with some going so far as to recommend flipping the entire house breaker until morning! The reason? The EMF radiation swirling around you may negatively affect sleep in a very profound way over the long term.
I've written before about how wireless baby monitors aren't a good idea for sleeping baby. Fitbits worn during sleep transmitting data via wireless are a bad idea for similar reasons.
According to PowerWatch, a wireless baby monitor at less than 1 meter away from the baby's crib was roughly equivalent to the microwave radiation experienced from a cell phone tower only 150 meters away. How much worse would a wireless enabled Fitbit be that is worn on your physical person as you exercise or sleep?
Interestingly, if you have dental amalgams (silver fillings) or titanium implants, this may make the wireless radiation from constantly wearing a digital Fitbit type device even more problematic. According to Lina Garcia, DDS, DMD:
"When considering the numerous reasons for the increasing prevalence of chronic illness in our society, I think that we should not overlook the possibility that metal-containing dental work, especially titanium implants, could be acting like antennas for the microwave [which includes wireless] transmissions going on between our cell phones and all of the cell phone towers in our 21st century environment.
… it is important to be aware that metal dental restorations and implants have already been shown to cause galvanic and electromagnetic stress for the human body. Galvanic and electromagnetic stress occurs when an unnatural electric current is generated by metal ions interacting with the electrolyte-rich fluid known as saliva.
If you doubt that you are surrounded by very strong wireless radiation while wearing a wireless enabled device be it a cell phone or a Fitbit, you can now download an app that will give you a colorful visual on those waves invisibly surrounding you with blue indicating the strongest wireless radiation down to red which indicates the weakest signal.
Heavy Metal Exposure from a Fitbit?
In March 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission officially recalled the Fitbit Force due to injuries to an estimated 9,900 people. These customers suffered from skin irritations such as blisters, rashes, and peeling skin after continual wearing of the Fitbit Force for a period of time. Fitbit stated that after consulting with medical professionals, the general assessment is that the skin problems were likely allergic reactions to nickel, a alloy in the stainless steel or adhesives used to assemble the Fitbit Force.
While it is well known that ingesting heavy metals like nickel can cause health problems, what is less well known is that the skin can absorb heavy metals too. Cooking acidic foods in stainless steel is known to leech alloys like nickel into the food, but could stainless steel placed on the skin which is normally acidic at a pH of 4.5-5.5 leech metals too? Even minute amounts of heavy metals in the body can have negative health consequences so this is far from a trivial concern.
Until there is more research and definitive answers to this question, it seems prudent to be wary of products like the Fitbit Force that expose the skin to heavy metals for extended periods of time.
Must Have a Fitbit?
If you find that despite any health concerns, you simply must have a device like a Fitbit to track personal activities, my suggestion would be to seek one of the older models that work mechanically rather than digitally.
For example, a basic mechanical pedometer counts steps by measuring how much the body shakes. An internal object moves up and down with the motion of the person wearing the pedometer, which senses the vibrations of feet hitting the floor. As the ball moves, it activates a switch that clicks the counter forward.
You can tell that you have a mechanical pedometer as it will work simply by shaking it even without any walking involved.
My Experience Using a Fitbit Scale
While I don't wear a Fitbit like device for the reasons cited above, I did use a Fitbit scale once a few months back. These devices measure BMI, body fat and other health statistics by sending an electrical signal through the body.
While the companies making these scales insist the signal shot through the body to gather the data is safe, the scale isn't recommended for pregnant women, children under 10, or anyone with an implanted medical device.
While I do not consider myself EMF sensitive in any way, I felt immediately light headed and fatigued after having my health statistics gathered by the Fitbit scale. The experience really surprised me, as I didn't expect a single use to produce such a reaction. I didn't feel right until a number of hours later.
Needless to say, I won't be using a Fitbit type of scale again in the future!
Use of a Fitbit Like Device is a Personal Decision
While choosing to use products like the Fitbit ultimately is a personal decision like whether or not to put a cellphone up to your head, in my book, it seems important to learn to switch off from our constant exposure to electronic devices and EMF radiation.
Exercise and sleep are the most obvious times to give yourself both a mental and physical break from EMF exposure.
Do you use a Fitbit? What are your reasons for doing so and do the potential health risks concern you?
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources and More Information
Are AMR Devices Safer than Smart Meters?
The Dangers of Induction Stoves (and what to buy instead)
Heavy Metal Toxicity Raises Risk of EMF Sensitivity
Reducing Exposure to Dirty Electricity
The Health Hazards of Wireless Baby Monitors
Harvard MD Speaks Out about the Health Dangers of Smart Meters
How to Protect Yourself from a Smart Meter
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Comments (101)
I am very concerned with the technology surrounding us in the forms of the various radiations and it is nice to know I am not alone. My entire family uses fitbit and track each other to see who walks the most. My sister bought one for her 12 year old daughter and I told her that it is not safe and to do her research as she already knows my feeling on them. The common response I get is everything is bad for you so whatever! Well, I do not use wifi in my home, I do have a cell phone but turn it off at home, and yes I have a landline ! I live in the forest so I have beautiful negative ions surrounding me when I go home. I believe that if we reduce our exposure the best we can our lives become more balanced. Disease whether chronic or acute comes from an imbalance in our lives. Look at how out of balance our society is. I believe everything we do to keep our balance benifits the planet!
I simply don't understand why people nowadays feel the need to micromanage, micro-process, and micro-analyze every second of their lives for the supposed goal of fitness, health, etc.. They don't realize that it is this very over-stimulation and constant connection to technology that is doing them the most harm. People have always found ways of being healthy without relying on fancy, expensive, intrusive, and ultimately useless little gadgets. Also, has anybody thought of the possibility of the government/companies using this information to track/spy on/control them?
My daughter bought me a FitBit HR for Mothers Day. I wore it 24/7. I've noticed that my memory has declined since then – difficulty coming up with familiar words. I used it on my left wrist and when I sleep I often put that arm under my pillow. I don't wear it anymore since I feel it impacted my memory.
i lost my baby through wearing my fitbit, as soon as i put it on, i started bleeding heavily within two days and after a week of wearing it 24/7, i realised it was the only thing i had done different, i took it off and i stopped bleeding within 24 hours.
they are dangerous.
Sarah, thank you for this post. I was considering a Fitbit and while looking at them wondered about the effects of wearing something with Wifi and I found your article which solidified my opinon on getting one. I wanted to ask if you happen to know if sleeping next to a Cpap with Wifi would be harmful. I was not given a choice of which Cpap machine I could have and was given one with Wifi. I have concerns about sleeping next to it at night. I'd like to find out if it's harmful so I can fight it if it is. Thank you.
Yes, sleeping next to a wifi device all night long is problematic. Ironic since a cpap machine is supposed to help improve sleep! See if you can turn off the wifi part of it.
Dr. Pri Bandara
Fitbits are another microwave transmitter so close to your body and without doubt a potential risk to health as microwaves are readily absorbed by body tissue and can interfere with cellular functions – inducing oxidative stress and disrupting ion channels in membranes for example. I have measured levels of EMR emissions and they are quite high. Wireless monitoring of any health parameter is potentially dangerous.
i have been looking for a way to track my sleep and the REM-fit was suggested to me and i have done some research newswatchtv.com/2016/02/12/rem-fit/ and was wondering if you thought this would be damaging to me in the long run? thanks for your time
Any device that is strapped to your body and uses wifi or cellular radiation to track biological activity is problematic to health over time.
Thanks Sarah for the article. I had held off on purchasing a fitbit for the info you mentioned but after all my extended family got one, and wanting to lose a few pounds I thought I would get one. What I am curious about is this: Since recently researching more about emf's radiation etc. I have decided to keep my cell phone on airplane mode most of the time and only check periodically, I can also disable blue tooth on my phone, so technically can't I still control this way when my fitbit sincs with my phone and thus avoid constant emf throughout the the day, I plan to take it off at the end of the day and let it sinc while I['m away in another room for a bit. and then charge it and put my phone back on airplane mode. What do you think of this???
This may work Michelle … see if you can get a model that will function as you need it to in order to keep yourself safe. Don't wear it while you sleep though.
While there are no exact right or wrongs of having a fitbit… it's all about choices. Personally I have a fitbit just to track steps and progress. It is also nice to look at what my heartbeat at rest is once in awhile. I don't even follow the suggestions of keeping to a diet or steps/day. So having a fitbit does not equal to micromanage because no one is forcing you to micromanage. I only chose fitbit because I feel that their sleep tracking, steps, and other features are rather accurate compared to other similar products. I do agree it is rather expensive for a product that tracks nothing but sleep, eat, steps, etc… but it is my choice to get it.
Many people makes assumption and association that their pains come from fitbit automatically without taking into account of all factors. Psychological, that's what the brain does. Give it another chance. The fitbit does make my wrist feel tired sometimes not so much as hurting. If that's the case, just take it off for awhile when you are sitting at work for example. The product manual also tells people to wear the product loosely fyi.
As for the sources cited, it seems to cite that radiation is bad for you in general, yes we know this. But do you have sources that target only fitbit products? It sounds like to me that you are telling us not to buy cell phones, because I assure you that cell phones emit more radiation than a fitbit's bluetooth. If you really want a goodnight's rest, just don't look at your cellphone an hour or two before sleep. As for exercises, make sure you eat enough carbs (carbs aren't good but necessary for exercise – This is a whole other topic).
That being said, the use of fitbit product is all about personal preference. It is good for keeping track of things. And eventually you can learn to eat healthy on your own and can stop using the product.
Rob C
I've had my fitbit charge HR for 4 months now, I've lost nearly a stone, I'm fitter, more motivated and actually have a clue about getting enough sleep, the right nutrition and exercise in my normal day.
I've had no reactions to the band, the HR light or anything really and i sleep well.
Unsure if all of this is unfounded unproven nonsense? If you have your bluetooth off the device isn't attempting to communicate with anything.
As for baby monitors, again who knows how much is true but on this I'd say why risk it, just go for a 40Mhz analogue voice activated monitor – proven to be MUCH safer.
Can anyone recommend a good reliable mechanical pedometer that also counts calories along with the steps?
I've had my fitbit charge for 4 days, I don't wear it to sleep and I'm not a moron and know I didn't just "wear it too tight. " I literally have what I can only describe as nerve pain in my wrist and hand. Static, tingly, and mildly bruised. W T *!
I have been wearing a fitbit HR for for 6-7 months. It was uncomfortable at first since I have a very small wrist. It was pokey and really hard to sleep with, but I was adamant in trying it. (I wore it loosely eventually got used to it but it was still a little annoying.) I loved the idea about tracking my calories, sleep, weight, heart rate, etc, etc,. I'm a statistics hoarder. I lost about 6 pounds, which I have kept off all this time and I learned a lot. I learned about the intensity of my workout and what it feels like for my heart rate to be at a certain level. I learned what it feels like to go several days without reaching 10,000 (bleh…) vs. reaching 15,000 (great!). I learned what eating a certain number of calories felt like, and how calories from different foods satiate you. All good stuff. I'm glad I tried it. HOWEVER……..Recently my thumb started to have nerve pain. I couldn't hold a waterbottle in my left hand (the hand I wore the HR) without my thumb hurting. I thought maybe I have arthritis? I ignored it. During spin class i wanted to get a more accurate reading of my steps, so I put the HR under my tights just below my knee and tucked the capris in under it. This worked well, but after a few spin classes, my left knee started to hurt. So I switched to my right knee. Then my right knee started to hurt. Hmmm pattern here. Just this week, I had a freezing/burning sensation in my left palm under my pinky and ring fingers. I wouldn't go away. I thought it could be bc of my posture and I was possibly pinching a nerve that went down my arm so I uprighted myself more consciously and stretched a lot. no change in the pain. I took off the watch and ask my husband to massage my hand and wrist, which he did for about 5 minutes. It felt better. So I put the watch back on. The pain returned. I finally came to my senses and just took off the watch for good. BUT, I decided to use it in spin class. I put it in my sock around my ankle. 15 minutes into class, my knee began to hurt. I took it off. The pain went away.
For those of you thinking of buying a fitbit HR, please realize it can have a detrimental effect on you. Perhaps it won't show up right away, but even if you think it isn't doing you any harm, it is and it just creeps up on you. Kind of like potato chips…. but that's another story.
I have SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) which is under control with medication, The first few hours of wearing my activity tracker I felt off, but thought it could just be me. I was awaken in the middle of the night with severe SVT attacks and heart palpitation. Trying to think what could have brought this on, the only change was my activity tracker. I took it off. Within an hour I was back to normal. I have tried wearing it several times since, but have the same result after a couple of hours. My Cardio has no explanation and honestly either do I.
I have also had toe same issues with the palpitations pretty bad. I'm set up to go see my cardiologist this Friday to run some tests.. In the mean time, I let my 11 year old son wear it to school Friday to show his friends and had a seizure and possible heart thing going on. I wonder if this is the cause of the problem with him. I will definitely bring it up to the neurologist and cardiologist.
D Cole
Wore FITBIT HR for almost a year. I finally decided I was tired of being a slave to it. I would stress me out if I didn't do a certain amount in a day. I'm already extremely active!! I agree that exercise should be stress free and the Fitbit was adding stress. I also got a strange rash under it. I'm Fitbit free and still moving!!
I wear fitbit since May. In July I started to have wrist pain and I did not associate it with fitbit until few days ago. Then I took it off. Pain is slowly going away. I had a full blown physiotherapy and wrist cast and all. Nothing helped until I took the fitbit off. Also, I have developed a muscle bump just at the place fitbit rested on my arm. Beware of Fitbit! I need to tell my husband and anyone around to take if off too.
Fitbit is a useless piece of jewelry.
All it does is tell me that I have slept and walked today.
DUH.?….I know that.
So how about suggesting things that might change the program?
Otherwise do not waste your money.
I first got my FitBit in July, wore it for a week or two and became very sick. Light headed, confused, heart palpitations and heavy chest I actually thought I was having a stroke with speech loss and issues with my words. Not ever thinking there was an issue with the fitbit. I am 44 , 5'2 and weigh 135, rather healthy normally. I took the fit bit off only because I was not feeling well. Started feeling better, got back to having energy and put it back on since I felt good enough to move and exercise. Again in a few days I felt AWEFUL again and ended up taking it off for a few days while I had a cat scan and stress test. No negative findings there and still never thought this was a fit bit issue but my fit bit sat on my dresser for months. Last week I charged it up and said its time to get back to moving more. I wore it for 3 days only during the day time and I have had the same issues, NOW I am wondering if the fit bit is an issue. I called and mentioned it to my Dr. Who said no it must be a coincidence. I will take my fit bit off yet again and see how I feel in a few days and try it one more time. Just thought I would share this in case there was anyone else with these issues.
I can't believe your doctor said it was a coincidence. How? I highly doubt it was a coincidence.
Evan K
Can I take a guess that you were conscious of "so called" side effects with wearing a fitbit? You should go to the website anxietyzone.com , Im not suggesting anything but its worth a look around as many people underestimate the physiological effects that can be induced by your brain.
Mary Jane
I wanted to share my experience…it is very similar to Pat's. Though I really like the information my FitBit HR Charge has provided me over the past 5 weeks, I think I should stop wearing it. Like Pat, after 2 weeks of wearing my FitBit I began having periods of significant chest pressure (yes it hurts), breathlessness, dizziness and after about 4 in a row, weakness. I decided to not wear my FitBit for a few days as that was the only thing I could think of that was causes my symptoms (besides possible indigestion). I have high blood pressure so I am very conscience of what is going on with me physiologically. After 2 days the bouts of pressure in my chest discontinued. I decided to begin wearing my FitBit again after 4 days but only during the day. So far so good. So, I began wearing it again full-time. After 2 days – the chest pressure, shortness of breathe and dizziness started again. I was thinking I should see my doctor and have a stress-test done. But since I saw that someone else had similar concerns/symptoms…I will see how I feel over the next few days. I may try the FitBit one more time….just to confirm the correlation. I do not think it is coincidence.
Sarah J
I bought a Fitbit flex about a month ago and I'm really pleased with it so far. I was looking for a way to keep fit but I don't like jogging or going to the gym but I do love walking. The lights light up every 2000 steps and it reminds me to walk more, I've bee getting out for a walk after work every day when I can to try and reach 10000 per day. The lights coming on are really motivating. I'm not using it for weight loss as I am naturally slim. I haven't had any sleep problems or weight problems.
After my requests to the Fitbit company were ignored, I stated this petition asking them to implement an off button for the bluetooth so we may control how much radiation we absorb. Your article was one of several I read that prompted me to return my Fitbit for a refund. Please support and share this petition:
I have been using my Fitbit One since March 2nd. In 4 months I have lost 28 pounds. For me, the Fitbit was not only about movement but about eating healthy and losing weight. There may be a lot of you out there that don't have weight problems like I have. I have struggled with weight since I was 13 and am now 62. I have tried many, many times over 50 years to stay on track with a eating and physical activity plan and none of them have worked for more than 30 days or so…or to be more honest, I couldn't stay with the plan. With the Fitbit, this is the first time all pieces have come together for me in a simple to use device. I log my food everyday and have step goals that are reasonable for me. Not only has the Fitbit helped me to start moving more and be mindful of what I am eating, I have inspired 5 other family members to get one and to start moving more. It's been fun and inspirational to help each other achieve our goals. When I am out walking, I do enjoy my surrounding and the movement. It's a great stress reliever. My husband and I have started walking together and its a great relaxing and bonding time for us (we have been married 44 years). Believe me, this is a much better activity than sitting in front of a tv or computer. So please don't be discouraged by naysayers…Do what's right for you. Fitbit has been a wonderful tool for me to learn new healthy habits that were not taught to me by my parents. Find people that will support you in your goals. I had 127.5 pounds to lose and now have 99.5 left…taking it 5 pounds at a time. I will not give up my Fitbit…it has been an awesome tool for me.
I was just going to place order today for fit bit. I see continues light blink under the dial which capture heart rate and hence i decide to see if it is safe and find ur article. I decide now not to buy it. I am not sure if it is correct or not. But it is better not to have it if there is any chance of health risk.
I started wearing Fitbit two days ago and today I started noticing an intense pain in my wrist where I was wearing the Fitbit. I took it off and will not wear it again.
Ummm, can I have it?
You can have mine. I cannot wear it. I thought all these people griping about the rash just weren't letting the skin breathe, or weren't keeping it clean, or taking it off at lest a little every day. Well, now I know. I wore it for a few hours for a walk on Sunday, took it off. Wore it for my workout Monday. It will take days for this rash, almost a burn, to go away. I clean it a minimum of twice a day. I have tried all different kinds of cleaners. I stopped wearing it most of the day. This last option is the best because now I leave it at work or home or where ever I am not exercising. So….basically…. an epic waste of $200. Plus, I am not going to jump to conclusions, but my wrist and finger ache after I have worn it for a few hours.
Zenon van Deventer
Just got mine to can't be sure but these things are selling by the tens of millions and problems are less than 1 in 10 000, so less than any shoes, any watch, any just about anything, per person. Are you sure it's not because you have absorbed all those things you say you used to clean it with? They list specifically what you should clean it with.
Thank you for this article. I've been wondering when articles like this would start appearing. It just doesn't make sense to think wearing one of these devices around your wrist 24/7 would be safe. If we're warned about phone and tablet usage, why would we think having a bracelet attached to us would not be harmful?? It amazes me what people will do without really thinking it out first. Hopefully more people will start speaking out about it soon. I would guess in the near future we will see more wrist issues in people… Glad to know I wasn't "crazy". 😉
Im in a clinical trial involving wearing a Jawbone. I am waking up through the entire night, Its exponetially gotten worse as Ive worn it 24/7 for over a month. Im not reaching a deep sleep. Last night I took 2 advil PM's which usually knock me out. I still woke up 4 to 5 times. I am wondering if wearing it is depleting my melatonin. Im sad to have to leave this clinical trial but something is suspect.
I don't believe the Jawbone uses Bluetooth or any other wireless signal. I'm pretty sure you have to manually plug it into your phone/computer to get your details. That would make it a safer option but some people complain about it being too bulky or coming off too easily.
I've actually worn a Fitbit Flex (not the Charge; I think that's the one they recalled for burns) for two years and have never experienced any pain, wrist issues or sleep problems. I love that it tells me when and how many times–if any–I was restless during the night and how long it took to fall asleep. If I have a great night's sleep or a poor night's sleep, I can look at the previous day's log and see when I ate, what I ate, how active I was, etc. and find trends in what causes me to have better or worse sleep.
Just received my Fitbit Charge HR today, felt intense pain in my wrist as soon as I put it on, so had a look online and found this article. Super disappointed I didn't research this before purchasing.
THe reason I looked online about the risks of wearing a device like Fitbit is because I believe it is messing with my menstrual cycle. I am 47 years old and believe I am peri menopausal. I used Fitbit a while back and thought maybe it was messing with it because I would not have a period and then I would start wearing it and I would get it. I haven't worn a Fitbit for months and I thought I'd give it another shot. Again within four days of wearing it I had my period, which I hadn't had for a while. Could be coincidence, but I seriously wasn't even thinking about it, I was just excited to start wearing it again because it motivates me!
I looked on line for side effects because I was having severe muscle pain in the arm I was wearing it on. I didn't think anything of it at first, but when my doctor couldn't find a medical reason for my muscle pain I tried thinking of what I was doing that might be causing it. Laying in bed last night, which is when I noticed the pain most, it dawned on me that the pain had started shortly after I had started wearing the Fitbit. I took it off and left it on my nightstand. Within five minutes the pain was very noticeably less and I was finally able to get to sleep. The next morning I put it on again, but on my other wrist. By afternoon I was getting pain in that arm. It's upsetting really because I found it really good at keeping me on track. I won't be wearing it anymore.
Please be aware the photographs are not actual images of Electromagnetic Fields. They are pictures of a device that lights up in different colors when Electromagnetic Fields are detected. I believe the word choice in the description of that photograph is misleading.
Seriously, I agree! If you read the page, the man took photos that picked up the strength of wifi signal and transmitted that into color. I know many people are totally paranoid about those sort of things, but honestly if you're afraid to use a fitbit because of the internet connection you probably shouldn't be blogging… Ya know?
We are talking about FITBIT and the pictures show a WIFI signal and most if not all FITBIT watches do NOT use a WIFI signal. The phone uses WIFI. The Watch uses Bluetooth and in most Cases low energy blue tooth so we are talking about 2 separate things all together. That tells me this entire article is not presenting the facts correctly. I have had multiple versions of the FITBIT and now wearing the FITBIT charge HR and like it says in the directions, if you wear it too tightly your skin may be sensitive to it. The easy answer is to loosen up the watch band or take it off for some periods of time. I am not a doctor, but believe the benefits of being able to see my heart rate, far outweighs a slight discomfort I may feel.
Vicki Taylor via Facebook
Ooh. Ouch. I have two (titanium) cochlear implants… literally right inside my skull, next to my brain. Fitbits aside (I don't have one) I wonder what electromagnetic fields from my other devices are doing to me. :/
Very interesting article. I use mine because of a wellness program at work. The fitbit is linked to our wellness program website so that I get "credit". Participation earns points which get us discounts on insurance and other great benefits like discounts on hotels so we can afford a vacation. Without it, I wouldn't be able to participate in this portion of the wellness program. It has also really made us conscious of how much exercise we get on any given day and has allowed us to set goals so that we keep active (which is hard with 2 kids under 2). But Obviously if it's doing serious damage to us, I'd rather not use it. You've given me something to think about.
Please research for yourself. These types of articles can be misleading. Just because they dig up a few articles doesn't mean that the opinion of the doctor writing the article is correct. I got this off the net about how powerful the output of the fitbit is. I am sure most people have their cell phones on them just as much as they would their fitbit. And it would be close to an equal amount as the cell phone has a much greater output. Also, if this is something that is helping you greatly become fit and healthy I would say the benefits outweigh the risks. There are a WHOLE huge list of things that can hurt you health wise when you are not in shape and are overweight. If you do not really need the fitbit why use it anyway?
Part of article I found:
For example, wearables from Fitbit use Bluetooth Low Energy, which is a "lower power technology than classic Bluetooth typically used in headsets, and operates at powers dramatically lower than cellphones," a company spokeswoman told Foxnews.com in an email.
In fact, she added, the output power of Fitbit's trackers is so low, the FCC does not require them to be tested for Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), a measure of the rate at which energy is absorbed by the human body when exposed to RF radiation, including microwave radiation). Cellphones and laptops, on the other hand, must pass strict SAR testing requirements, since they operate at higher power levels.
Kirsten McCamley via Facebook
Would the same be true for a regular heart rate monitor?
HRM Owner
I don't know, but a heart rate monitor is worn only for a short period of time.
Thanks for the thought-provoking article! I was just about to shell out $70 for one of these but did a quick web search for the safety of fitbit first and I found your article. I turn my wifi off when I'm asleep and don't live too close to neighbors for there's to reach me. I notice my sleep seems to be better this way, so why would it make sense to add a wifi tracker to me while I sleep?! Thanks for the reality check.
Bobby Kilkenny
Electromagnetic radiation emitted from Fitbit devices would have to be trace amounts. The trackers have a very low power output – less than 1% of the output power in a typical cell phone. If they emitted much EMF, the battery on them wouldn't last very long. According to their website, the battery on the Flex lasts 5 days. And the little 3V coin battery on the Zip lasts 4 to 6 months!
This is intersecting. I am the biggest Fitbit fan.. So I bought the HR. I'm noticing wrist pain that I have never had before… And it def scares me. Why on earth would this device cause this pain. When I take it off the pain goes away. I dont want to stop wearing it but I'm scared it could be harming my body.
Sarah TheHealthyHomeEconomist
It IS harming your body. Return it if you can.
I researched bands quite a bit before getting the newer Garmin Vivofit. This band only transmits data when I sync it to my computer (or cellphone). So I'm hoping that drastically cuts down on EMF's. Also the band doesn't have any exposed metal parts – just a rubber/vinyl material band – so I'm hoping that isn't a concern either. I have a desk job, and even though I'm active, I was shocked how little I moved throughout the day, unless I made a specific effort to do so. And in that manner, the tracker has been very helpful. Although, I've often wondered about wearing anything like this 24/7 – and your article will make me consider my actions. Thank you!
Elizabeth M
thanks Sarah for your informative email. Your article makes some good points about EMF. We have bought into the wi-fi world so much we don't think about the radiation that it is spewing into our brains, let alone our bodies!
I purchased a FitBit about 2 years ago and used for awhile, during that time I didn't notice any negative side-effects.
I read an article recently that stated that most people wear these devices for only 6 months then they are shelved, which is good news!
Amber Piekarski
I downloaded the EMF app and went outside of my wireless range and held my fitbit FORCE up to it and it gave me a red screen…which is the lowest amount of EMF possible on the scale… So I think it's probably just fine. I'd be more concerned with wireless exposure, when I used the app close to my computer it was a blue screen up to 85 on the scale.
Tonya Scarborough
I've seen a few other healthy lifestyle bloggers advocating the fitbit, and wondered how they justify the EMF's. Maybe most people aren't aware of the dangers. Thanks for the post.
Nora McCaw White via Facebook
I have a jawbone Up I plug it in. I need to boost to really track my activity. I am losing weight. Since I am obese I think I will keep it up.
Terri Martin-Marier via Facebook
Now I might return the two that I bought
Radosveta Hall via Facebook
Only uploads when you are close to your "dongle", a small USB device you insert in your computer. It will not emit anything unless you're close to it for a handshake between the devices. Mine uploads once daily when I get home and close to my computer. Only thing that keeps me walking my 10,000 steps daily and keeps me accountable. A tiny device, feel like this is a bit too much of fear mongering here.
Debbie Jacko via Facebook
wow! I never realized that. My kids bought me one for Christmas and I wear it 24/7.
Sharon Catney Donovan via Facebook
interesting. I was stressing about which on to buy, but after reading this, I thinj I will buy…. nothing. This brings up some old points. Save my Joey and go buy some healthy food
Thanks for this information. The EMF exposure did not dawn on me at all when I purchased the fitbit. I have a digital pedometer that runs on a battery is that OK? I also listen to Pandora through my cell phone while I am walking… I suppose that is not good either. I was wearing the fitbit to bed to track my sleeping because I work the overnight shift (which is not good on my physical self to begin with) but will stop that. I have more trouble getting weight off since being on the overnight shift… thanks for all that helpful information. I have so many things going against me I have no idea if I am coming or going.
Sarah TheHealthyHomeEconomist
That sounds fine … old fashioned battery operated pedometer. Good choice!
Yes, the cellphone exposure is a problem … can you use an mp3 player instead? Very inexpensive option.
I also bought the fitbit to keep track of my sleep. (I work odd hours.) I've used it for a few months now, and really like the activity tracking. The sleep tracking was disappointing, though.
If you're looking for a sleep tracker, I'd recommend the SleepBot app. Unlike fitbit, it will give you statistics like average daily sleep time, wake time, and duration of sleep on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. You can set your own optimal hours for sleep duration, and it will calculate your sleep debt.
As for radiation, I just hit "going to sleep" on the screen, turn it off, and leave it on the desk. It's my preferred sleep tracking method, now. (Admittedly, I still use the fitbit for activity tracking. The radiation makes me nervous, but it's actually motivating me to work out.)
I love my fitbit! I also listen to pandora when I run, to me it makes running more enjoyable.
Does the idea of radiation make me nervous? A little. But my honest opinion is that I'm not going to live to be 100 years old. Nor do I want to my knees and shoulders are already shot from high school athletics. Of course I regret nothing, I loved playing sports. But I'm going to die eventually, and that's not debatable. Am I going to spend my whole life terrified that wifi will give me cancer? No. I'm going to use my wifi to watch enjoyable movies in my down time, research for work when I must, and in my spare time, I am going to run, listen to pandora, and wear my fitbit so I can later view how my performance is improving and come up with new goals.
If your knees are shot why are you running?
Running is not bad for your knees if your form is good. It can also make damaged knees less painful.
1. Using an MP3 player is only helpful if you're somewhere that you won't need a phone.
2. The EMF levels listed are negligible compared to other electronic devices that are used daily. Things like the transformer outside your home, your electrical appliances (TV, fridge, blender, anything that is plugged into electricity), your wireless internet, MP3 Players, etc.
3. The only time you need to transmit with the Fitbit is when you are syncing your device and you can take it off while that happens if you're that concerned with the EMF.
4. You don't have to wear the Flex (or any other tracker) 24 hours a day. You can wear it as long as you feel comfortable doing so.
5. Many exercise programs advise to keep track of your activity levels so you can match you activity level to your caloric and fat intake.
6. The only actually tracking that you don't have to manually activate (unless it's the fitbit Charge HR) is the activity tracker which will then calculate the calories burned based on the duration of the activity. This is no different and no more invasive than an exercise machine that does the same thing.
Veronica Navarro via Facebook
Call me old fashion but I don't care about these things. Just exercise to feel good, no counting anything here. Plain and simple…
Or you can do the exact same thing with your Fitbit device, only more accurate.
Michelle Stumpf via Facebook
That was what bothered me, it was always searching for a signal to connect and update my stats. It's buried in a drawer somewhere – been dead for a long time!
Jen Keller Faust via Facebook
I would definitely never wear one during sleep.
So true about the EMF.
And stress is the enemy of weight loss for women.
A new study shows women actually appear to burn less calories when stressed.
Thank you for this important information.
Sarah, I use a fitbit while working in the vineyard mainly b/c of the watch on it. It is small and I clip it to my waistband plus, it does encourage me when I see the steps I have taken throughout the day – they really add up. For me it is not about weightloss but movements as you said. You have really given me something to think about – I had never thought about the wireless radiation! I will definitely be giving this some thought! But, as I scrolled down to thank you for your post, I could not help but notice a FitBit ad was on your Adsense right under the article – I know you don't have control over that but it was just too funny not to mention!!!!
I have a fitbit and wear it daily; but not by choice. My company has a 'wellness' plan and the employees portion of the health insurance premium is determined by participation in the wellness program. If you wear a fitbit and upload the data to the health coach each day; each employee received a $50 monthly credit toward their insurance premium. Other factors such as BMI, cholesterol and exercise are all factored in and if you participate in all area's of the wellness plan, you can end up paying NOTHING for health insurance; the company pays it all. So i've never paid much attention to the fitbit I wear it because it saves me $50 a month.
Sarah TheHealthyHomeEconomist
Wow. I find this shocking and invasive of privacy. How do you feel about it?
This is still by choice. You are choosing to get the $50 credit or not.
This is very interesting and for me is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence that FitBit works! The company has decided that it saves money by buying each employee a FitBit AND paying for that employee's health care outright. This tells me that the exercise people are getting, due in large part to FitBit, is worth more $$$ than their financial outlay. All that money savings plus better health to boot!
I have a friend who uses a FitBit to help track his sleep, among other things. I think that the majority of people who are shocked to find out how little activity they get during the day would be dismayed to find out what little good sleep they get at night
Another thing that differentiates the FitBit from a manual pedometer is the altimeter that can track you doing flights of stairs or hill climbs.
I don't have one. Probably won't get one. But I'm not sure I'm more scared of it than the cell phone in my pocket.
I have owned a Fitbit Force for a few months and it has made me much more conscious of how little movement I was getting with a desk job and two hour daily commute. So seeing my steps has helped me decide to be much more active, a positive. My phone allows me to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, even though the basic phone connection is still active, so I don't know how much difference that makes.
I thought it was interesting, in an article about the dangers of EMF exposure, that Sarah recommended downloading an app to check radiation exposure. (Won't downloading and using the app exposure you to more radiation??) But I agree it's an important issue to be aware of, and I just might return my Force and go to a manual pedometer as a result!
Thank you for this article! I've used a FitBit intermittently for the past couple of years (I have an older model), and while seeing my step count increase is motivating, I find obsessing over the numbers very easy to do. As you said, this is far from the destressing experience exercise should be! I also have been concerned about the EMF exposure. I have been thinking about buying a new model to replace my aging one, but you just helped me decide to save my money.
Very nice post. Thank you!
Obviously the Wi-fi radiation is affecting not only the person who is wearing this device, but also anyone who is close to them. I was wondering if you would have an advice on how to ask somebody to turn their device off, if they ave to sit /stand close to you.
And on the same note – how do I ask my neighbor to turn their wifi down, or shut it off at night? Their signal is stronger in my bedroom then any on my own devices. And I turn mine off at night. I don't know these people, and have no idea how to explain my convenes and what can be done in this situation.
Sarah TheHealthyHomeEconomist
This is a very tough question as the mainstream public still doesn't really recognize the potential and very real health risks from EMF overexposure. I believe there are devices that clear EMF waves from a certain area.
Of Goats and Greens
Daisy, it might not be easy. I use my Kindle when I drop off to sleep, for a few minutes — having just that one sort of light source rather than a whole light to read a physical book or magazine helps me go into sleep faster these days. AND I am one of those (not really so unusual) people who awaken at one or two in the morning, partially for the bathroom, and just because it's a cycle. Again, surfing around to places like this site helps me fall back to sleep.
I don't use a Fitbit or any other device, although I'd like to try one for a week, just to get an idea of my patterns. (It's the same theory I have for tracking food… do it briefly to know your parameters, then just stop and work with what you've learned.)
But with Fitbits, I find the theory rather invasive of privacy, even if the data they collect is aggregated.
Probably I should worry about EMF's, but right now there are enough other concerns.
Yes, I know, late in the game. But here's some information for you. I've never seen a router available through retail that allows one to basically dial down the signal strength like you seem to be describing; without specialized equipment, it's pretty much all (on) or nothing (off).
There are two half-ways and one true way to "clear" a router signal from an area. You can create a signal that cancels out their signal (think noise-canceling headphones), but that's not really removing the waves from the area, rather adding more — hence the 1/2. Water is also said to block all but the lowest RF frequencies; a layer of water one foot thick surrounding your house might do the job.
The only way to truly block the signal is RF shielding, essentially turning your house, or at least your bedroom, into one large Faraday cage. Aluminum foil doesn't work as well as Hollywood would have you believe, but copper does. Copper foil would block a lot but thin copper sheet is probably adequate for standard wi-fi signal. But we all know how pricey copper is getting these days (supposedly there's a special kind of "paint" that does the same, but reports are mixed). Send a line from your shielding to the ground and any signal hitting your house is neutralized.
Of course, there are two important things involved. There can be no gaps in coverage, which means no windows or vents and very carefully shielded doors. It also blocks any other signals going in or out (no cellphone calls).
Considering the relative weakness of wi-fi signals, It's not worth it to me. Seems like there are bigger risks that are much more manageable to focus my attention on.
You can buy a bed canopy that blocks EMF waves. They are expensive, but that might be your best bet since there is little else you can do.
I wear a FitBit Flex and keep it on during sleep. Mainly because I forgot and eventually lost other pedometers I have used in the past. Pedometers help me stay motivated to be active and exercise. They also make it fun to compete with friends that have similar devices. Interesting points about the EMF radiation. I've been concerned about it from all of my home's electronic devices and the power lines that flank the outdoor running trail I use. Weighing the pros and cons and considering I'm likely already swimming in EMF radiation, in the city in my high-rise condo, I'll keep my Flex for now until exercise is naturally a more integrated and effortless part of my life and my butt's a little smaller :).
If we really want to keep it simple – use a manual odometer (powered by a battery) and keep moving until you reach 10,000 steps. I don't recall why 10,000 steps is the desired goal yet that is the figure I've seen in articles. Even if it's not accurate to the nth degree – it's one less radiation source to contend with.
I use the Omron pedometer which is the most accurate pedometer out there hands down! It is ran off of a battery. I love it! I am a huge believer in 10000 steps plus for health, not killing yourself but getting in extra steps like parking further away, etc.. A sedentary lifestyle has almost killed me so YES again I do believe this is saving my life!
I have to point out a glaring inaccuracy in this post. Fitbits do not transmit data via wifi (the scale is different) but the activity trackers do not use wifi. They use bluetooth. While there may be dangers from this, there are different kinds of bluetooth transmitters that have different amounts of power. Additionally, you can decide if you even want to activate the bluetooth in activity trackers, it is not necessarily enabled by default. they way you write about this seems like a scare tactic rather than actually providing factual information so people can make their own decisions.
Sarah TheHealthyHomeEconomist
The definition of bluetooth is "a standard for the short-range wireless interconnection of cellular phones, computers, and other electronic devices." Wireless is Wi-Fi.
Correct – devices are either wired or wireless, those that are wireless, including 'blutooth' are Wi-Fi – there was no 'glaring inaccuracy' in the post. Fitbit data is synced via Wi-Fi
I like your articles regarding food Sarah, so please don't think I'm trying to be hostile!
Wireless isn't Wi-Fi.
Wi-fi is wireless, but it is just of many wireless standards, including FM radio and Bluetooth.
The bluetooth wireless standard uses much much less energy than the Wi-Fi wireless standard, hence it's lower range and slower.
I would love to know Celeste which ones allow you to turn off the bluetooth. Please share. I did some research before buying mine because I wanted to be able to do turn it off. I couldn't find one. I use a Fitbit and none of them enable you to turn them off.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Bluetooth radiation has been even less studied than cell phone radiation. Just because bluetooth wireless is a shorter distance than other wireless technologies doesn't make it any more safe. http://emfblues.com/bluetooth-radiation/
Well I would mention that it may be a bit of a scare tactic approach to a technology that's fairly new. As is expected with any product introduced into the market. One has to due the leg work to find what's safe and what's not. So far as I'm concerned, I've scoured the internet about the Fitbit Blaze (Which is fairly new) and have yet to find anyone that has an issue with this product. What I did find was many people seemed to attribute the prior FitBit products to possible pre-existing issues. At least that's what I gleaned from some of the past posts. Well In reality? I don't buy it. Pragmatist here.
I have just begun to use a FitBit this week. I have tried joining clubs, using a calendar, and DVDs for different types of exercise. My house is small, it doesn't take many steps to complete daily tasks. I live in a climate that experiences wind and rain for about six months out of the year. I have seven children. Daily exercise has not been a relaxing, stress reducing activity. It has become virtually non-existent.I have become a slug! I need a way to have some accountability, or even to compete against myself. I can look at my fitbit and see that my daily household duties have garnered me only 3K steps for the entire day. A trip to the grocery store might get me over 5k, but barely. My house is small, we have three smart phones, a couple of 3ds handheld gaming systems, and one laptop. There is so much radiation around my house, that a FitBit isn't going to make that much difference. I have also chosen not to sleep with it on, I don't shower with it, either. That seems extreme in my opinion. Being able to track my movement is motivational for me, personally. I hope I don't always need it, that I will build a lifestyle change after a period of time. For now, though, the risks of wearing a fitbit outweigh the risks of continuing to gain weight and live a sedentary life style.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Actually, the closer you are to a wireless device, the more negative the effects. Even a foot or two makes a difference. The effects of wireless radiation drop off dramatically within just a yard. Best to not wear one on your person, especially while you sleep and keep your wireless router on the opposite side of the house to the bedrooms if you don't turn it off at night. Also keep all wireless devices out of the bedroom.
Julie in WA
Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond has been spewing accolades about her FitBit; why, just this morning, after reading her latest post about this exercise device, I was convinced to start researching purchase options for myself. What a dramatic effect your article has had on me! I had no idea that such a little tool carries potential threats to my health. I won't be shopping after all. Thank you for a timely post!
Thanks so much for this article Sarah. I love your blog BTW. The article confirms what I felt was the main negative to a fitbit ~ constant exposure to EMF radiation. However I do use one. And purchased it having this concern, but could find no real info about it.
I made the decision not to wear it during sleep although I have the fitbit one that will monitor sleep. I also try not to wear it in the same spot everyday…maybe not super effective for overall exposure but at least one spot isn't getting all the juice.
I don't intend on using it forever. Just until I get the extra 30lbs off I have gained in my 40's since having my only child, while instilling better eating and workout habits that I had lost. We do follow the Weston A Price traditional food style of cooking in our home. But eat out too much and some bad habits have been creeping back in. Before my son I had 20 yrs of great work out habits (as well as even teaching an exercise class). But since having him and moving to a new area of town plus trying to run my own business, I just haven't been able to get into a routine and was eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted (still mostly raw dairy, pastured meats, good fats etc…). 8 yrs and 37lbs later the fitbit has broken the cycle. And I must say it is working. Using it and the app has made me given me the push I needed by making me more aware of food going in and staying active. (BTW I tried just using the app without the fitbit 3 yrs ago, and it didn't work for me). I have now lost 12 lbs without really feeling any sacrifice or deprivation. I still eat lots of good fats (animal fats, coconut oil). And I am still walking mostly as I was prior to the fitbit, but have increased the frequency moderately as well as searching out more movement in general in my day. I guess what I am saying is there haven't been any drastic changes other than minor tweaking of my food intake and amount of movement. The fitbit works to make me more aware and I am getting results. So for 9 months or so I am wearing it knowing the EMF exposure isn't good. I do try and limit EMF in other ways in my life however. Hoping this makes a difference.
Wouldn't it be fabulous if the fitbit device's bluetooth signal could be turned off manually? Then we could control when it syncs with our other devices. I am hopeful the makers of the fitbit do this in a future product.
BTW ~ before I bought it I did some research. One fitness blogger compared Fitbit, Nike and a manual pedometer. She said she was skeptical that the bluetooth devices were worth it. However her conclusion was that the digital/bluetooth devices were worth the extra $50 over a good manual pedometer because they were way more accurate as well as more motivating because of the tools used with them (apps and social networking).
Some of us just need a little push (or a big one) to get there. When I was in good shape and in a great workout habit I would never have thought this device was needed for all the reasons you cite above.
Thanks for all you do!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Good point. I'm not surprised the manual pedometers are not as accurate. Each person will have to make the judgment call whether the EMF exposure is worth pinpoint accuracy.
I have a new FitBit Blaze. Excellent device. I wear it loosely on my left wrist. No effects as to EMF or any other issues. However I remove the device before sleep. I used to work in telecom. Routers, Servers, etc. Talk about EMF? Yep. That's dangerous. As far as I know? This particular issue has not been addressed by OSHA. On the other hand, my vascular surgeon asked me years ago if I held my cell phone to my ear while chatting. Knowing before hand the dangers of such use I responded no. I use the speaker mode. As with any electrical or wireless device such will emit radiation (Radio frequency RF) to an extent. But most people aren't aware that the body has radiation in it already. Most people are also unaware as to what devices in the home emit RF. From your flat screen to ones computer. Microwaves…the list goes on. To be totally safe from such? One would have to travel almost 4,000 feet below the earths surface and still you'd have radiation to an extent. The human body while in the sun or not absorbs radiation all the time. We'd be dead if not for that. I have yet to meet anyone who has had troubles with the new Fitbit Blaze. However? I will be very diligent as to any information regarding this device. I like it. It's an attractive device and it works very well if one is into exercising. I ride my composite bike 18 miles every other day. Don't smoke nor eat garbage. At the ripe age of 65 I'm in great health (knock wood). weight a healthy 165# and still chase the ladies.